Have your say on childcare and workforce challenges
RAPAD and the councils of Central West Queensland are calling on employers and business owners across the region to share their experiences as part of the next stage of a region-wide effort to better understand childcare access and its impacts on local communities and the workforce.
An Employer and Industry Survey is now open as part of the RAPAD Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) Alliance, and delivered by The Future Care Project, aimed at capturing how childcare availability impacts local businesses, including their ability to attract and retain workers, manage staffing and support business operations.
A separate survey is also open to Providers, Educators and Services to examine their experiences in delivering childcare across the region.
RAPAD Chair and Longreach Mayor Tony Rayner said the surveys were an important next step in developing a complete picture of childcare access and its wider impacts across Central West Queensland.
“Earlier this year, we heard from families about the challenges they face accessing childcare. Now we need to understand what that means for our businesses and workforce, and hear from the people delivering care,” Mayor Rayner said.
“Childcare is not just an issue for parents. When people can’t access suitable care, it can affect whether they can return to work, take on additional hours or remain living in our communities.
“Whether you have a small business in town, are managing the local clinic or running a property, you’re already facing workforce shortages and childcare challenges can make it even harder to attract and retain staff. We need good regional evidence to demonstrate those impacts and support practical solutions.”
RAPAD Senior Project Coordinator Rachael Webster said hearing from both employers and childcare providers would help identify how childcare needs, workforce challenges and service delivery intersect across the region.
“We know that childcare availability looks very different across our communities, and the challenges faced by a business trying to recruit staff can be quite different from those faced by a childcare provider trying to deliver a sustainable service,” Ms Webster said.
“By hearing from both groups, alongside the experiences already shared by families, we can develop a more complete understanding of what is happening on the ground.
“This information will help the RAPAD ECEC Alliance and our member councils continue advocating for childcare policies, funding and service models that reflect the realities of living and working in rural and remote Queensland.”
“Please share the survey through your networks. The stronger the response from across our communities, the stronger the evidence we can take forward. We encourage everyone involved in local business or childcare delivery to have their say.”
About the surveys
The surveys are open across the seven RAPAD local government areas of Barcaldine, Barcoo, Blackall-Tambo, Boulia, Diamantina, Longreach and Winton.
The Provider, Educator and Service Survey welcomes responses from both services and individual educators across all forms of childcare, including long day care, family day care, in-home care, in-venue care, outside school hours care, vacation care, occasional care, nannies and au pairs.
Complete the surveys:
- Employer and Industry Survey – for employers and businesses
- Provider, Educator and Service Survey – for childcare providers, services and individual educators
Surveys close: Monday 30 November 2026
About the RAPAD ECEC Alliance
The RAPAD ECEC Alliance brings together councils and regional stakeholders across Central West Queensland to advocate for childcare access and early childhood education and care policies and services that reflect the needs of rural and remote communities.
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Project contact: Rachael Webster, Senior Project Coordinator, rwebster@rapad.com.au, 0428 727 605
Media contact: Aleisha Domrow, RAPAD Communications, adomrow@rapad.com.au, 0423 116 865